In my opinion, Glidden Point Oysters from the Damariscota River in Edgecomb, Maine are the best tasting oysters, and available any time of the year. Having sold oysters from up and down the east coast, I've found these the best. Twice a year, we travel to the Boothbay region and always bring back a cooler full of these beauties.

The best I ever had was in southwestern Washington on Willapa Bay. The oysters were huge (think palm size) briny and fresh. I was hungry and ordered six on the half shell and six fried. They brought the half shell first and I realized that my eyes were much bigger than my stomach. I ate only three of them because I knew if I ate the other three, I would not be able to eat any of the fried. I had three of the fried.

The place is way out of the way and you sorta have to go there to get there.

I have found that Washington has most of the best seafood other than Maine lobsters.

We really enjoy our visits to the Gulf Coast. There are many good shellfish restaurants along the coast of Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi. Raw, Broiled, or mixed with stuff to make the Rockefellers or Chees combinations, all are delicious.

Living here in land locked Austin I am immediately suspicious of raw shellfish of any kind. I will however eat the hell out of them in Port Aransas or south Padre. I long for the days of the raw bars in Virginia Beach and Mystic Ct and above all Newport RI. (sigh)

I chickened out in Mobile-I have never had good oysters so I didn't know the bar that was raised. Al shared some with me, and have never had better. Should have sat next to llechef-we would have been a force to be reckoned with-knowing what I know now. Have some in Pittsburgh for me, Lisa!!!!!!

Living here in land locked Austin I am immediately suspicious of raw shellfish of any kind. I will however eat the hell out of them in Port Aransas or south Padre. I long for the days of the raw bars in Virginia Beach and Mystic Ct and above all Newport RI. (sigh)

Annie I'll do my best! Doubt that I will down 3 dz. as MH doesn't like them raw. Don't forget, in Mobile I had Al on one side and Mike S on the other so it was like a chain reaction!! A good one at that!

I managed to put away 3 dozen on the half shell in Mobile at Wintzell's. I had a nice sampler of Oregon oysters with Mr. Chips and Trudy in Portland. Love raw oysters!!

The last time I ate three dozen on the 1/2 shell was a little over a year ago at Pappadeaux's Seafood Restaurant here in Dallas. They were spectacular Texas Gulf oysters on special for $4.99 a dozen. Only one problem, though. The next morning my gout flared up so bad I couldn't walk for almost a week" />. But, they sure were good oysters!

I downed 6 dozen (minus 3 or 4 that Annie tried as her intro to Oysters) of Wintzells Raw Bar at the Glee Club session. I was ready to order more, but my dinner showed up... Were we to do this again, I would have skipped the fried dinner (6 medium shrimp 2 Scallops and 4 oysters) and kept going on the raw on the half shell Oysters ! I don't know about my limit, but at $6 per dozen, knocking down a gross (total count) would be cheaper than the appetizer & dinner I ordered last time.

We are headed over to the Moonlite BBQ for their Friday nite dinner/buffet. In addition to all the usual BBQ stuff, they add fried Oysters, fried and boiled Shrimp, and of course fried Catfish. The Oysters and Shrimp don't measure up to the Gulf-Coast critters...but they are tasty !!

Along the eastern shore of Maryland and Chesapeake area the water men call them "arse-ters". I remember growing up as a kid in northern Va that my Dad and I would go down the oyster boat docks and walk from boat to boat on weekend mornings. Each captain would offer us samples....we'd usually end up eating a couple of dozen before we landed on our choice. Most often a bushel of Chincoteague's for about $2! We'd take them home and do a roast and invite some neighbors. We were popular folks on Sunday afternoons. Kind of a perfect Father's Day memory for me....I really miss the old man.

OK, Ed, I'll set a 3 dz. limit too. Nah, maybe I'll have 4 dz. I go past Graeter's every day......was tempted to stop in today and get a pint of Hazelnut Truffle Gelato but I was a good girl and kept going. It's WONDERFUL!!!

Saturday evening, I was in Dothan, Alabama, and made my way to Hunt's Oyster Bar. I didn't ask, but I believe the oysters came from Apalachiacola. By Al. standards, they were pricy, at $10 per dozen. The quality was exceptional, however, better than I've had at Wintzell's in recent years. Don't bother with the baked ones, they were less than acceptable.

PP, When I was in AL after the oil spill, for the next few years there were no local oysters. Some of the places got oysters from Apalachiacola, FL to cover and they were expensive, compared to what the local oysters had been. I was told that Apalachiacola was the closest place they could get oysters from that had not been affected by the spill. I found them to be delicious and of excellent quality too. I think plenty of places must have kept buying them even after local oysters were available again because of the taste and quality. Ed